Implement foe capping and uncapping caeteidge shells



(Model.)

H. F. MANN.

IMPLBMENT PGR GAPP'ING AND UNCAPPING CARTRIDGE SHELLS. No. 288,950.Patented Nov. 20, 1883.

WITNESSES Wee/M5031 UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY l?. MAXX, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPLEMENT FOR CAPPING AND UNCAPPING CARTRIDGE-SHELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,950, dated November20, 1883.

Application filed June 26, 1853.

T0 all whom it 77mg/ concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY F. MAXX, a citizen of the United States,residing at littsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDevices for Capping and Removing Caps from Cartridge-Shells; and Ihereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionot` the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure l is a sectional view showing in 'l'ull line the devicesin position for capping a shell, and in dotted 1line the position fordecapping a shell. Fig. 2 is a detached sectional View of thecartridge-post and detachable sleeves for adapting the same tocartridges of diiferent caliber. Fig. shows a modiiied manner ofactuating the plunger.

Like letters refer to like parts wherever they occur.

)Iy invention relates to that class of devices employed in removing theold caps from cartridgeshells and in applying fresh caps thereto7whereby the old cap can be removed and the new cap applied to the shellcontinuously and without a transfer or second handling of the shell; andit has for its object to simplify the instrument by reducing the numberof parts, and so combining the same as to obtain accuracy and facilityof operation with durability and reduction of the cost of manufacture.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more specifically, so thatothers skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

ln thedrawings, a indicates asuitable baseplate, to which is secured ashell-post, Z), having a central b ore for the reception of a plunger,c. The post is preferably tapered slightly at the top, as at b, whichfacilitates the placing ofthe shell in position and accommodates anyvariations in shape in the base of the shell. The diameter of this postis usually made to correspond with a shell of the smallest gage orcaliber in demand, and, in order to adapt it to the larger gages orcalibers, detachable sleeves c are provided. Il', for instance, it isdesired to adapt the post to use with but two different ga ges-say 1Gand 10-the post would be made for a 1G diameter, and the bore of thesleeve c would be such. as to adapt it to receive the shell-post l),while its outer diameter would correspond with a Xo. l() gage or(Model.)

caliber cartridge-shell; and so any two or more given gages may be usedby making the post one diameter, and a series of sleeves having internaldiameters to iit the post and external diameters of the desired gage-as,for instance, 8, 10, 12, &c. ln some easesit may be desirable toincrease the number of changes which can be made, in which case a nestofsleeves, c c at', &c., may be employed, (see Fig. 2,) the outer diameterof each sleeve corresponding toa given caliber shell, while its interiordiameter orbore corresponds with the next smaller of the series overwhich it iits. The sleeve c, or series of nests of sleeves, should be sosecured to the shell-post b that they will not be displacedwhenwithdrawing a cartridgeshell, and for this purpose the sleeve may beslotted below, so as to permit it to be contracted by a screwpassingthrough lugs on the sides of the slot. A set-screw may be used, abayonet-lock, (as shown in the drawings) or any other well-known means.The bayonetlock will serve very well where a nest of sleeves is used.rlhe base of the shell-post bis slotted to permit the passage of one armof a bent lever, d,to which the central plunger, c,is pi voted, and bywhich it is actuated. By pivoting or linking the central plunger to itsactuatinglever the plunger is projected and withdrawn with certainty,and the use of springs avoided.

(l indicates a bent or elbow lever for actuating the central plunger, c.rlhis lever d has a vertical arm,which rises to substantially the heightofthe shell-post, and has pivoted to its upper end the capping anddecapping lever, and has also a horizontal arm, to which the centralplunger, c, is pivoted.

rlhere are several ways in which the parts may be arranged and connectedat the will ol' the constructor-as, for instance, the fulcrumpivot ofthe lever d may be at or near the angle, and its connectionwiththeplnnger cnear the end ofthe horizontal. arm, as shown in fullline, or the lever d may have its Fulcrum at or near the extremity ofthe short arm, and its connection with the plunger c, near the middleofthe short arm, as shown in Fig. 3, either of which or equivalentmechanicalmeans may be adopted for actuating said plunger. d.' i11-dicates spurs or stops for limiting the movement of lever d, andconsequently the movement otl plunger c.

f indicates the capping and decapping le- IOO ver. This lever is pivotedon the i'ree arm of the elbow-lever d, so that the elbow-lever can beactuated by the capping and decapping lever. Upon the lever f, back ofthe pivotpoint, are two projections, one, g, for capping, the other, 7i,for uncapping, the shell. The distance ofthe lirst from the pivot-point(or i'ulcruni) of lever f is such that it stands over the center of theshell-post b when. the lever d has been drawn to the extent of itsmovement in one direction or toward the sliell-post b,wliile thedistance from the pivot to the second is such as will bring it over thecenter of the sliell-post when the lever l has been pushed in theopposite direction or away from the post. rlhe projection 0, which isused in applying a cap, is simply a nipple or projection with a llatface, while the one h, which is used in uiicapping the shell, is aslotted lug or any hollow-faced projection or projections which willstraddle the cap and bear directly on the base ofthe cartridge-sliell.Vhen the lever d has its fulcruni arranged as shown in full line, Fig.1, the capping-lug will be next to the pivot as the'plunger c will bewithdrawn when the lever is drawn forward but if the fulci'uni is at theextremity of short arm of leverd (see Fig. 3) then the decapper 7i willbe located next to the pivot-point of lever f, as the plunger c will beprojected when the lever d is drawn toward the shell-post b. lf there isa tendency in the fulcruin-point of lever j' to change when the lever d,upon which it is pivoted, is at the greatest distance from theshell-post, it may be prevented by forining a swell or shoulder, t',upon the outer side of the projection next to t-lie pivot-point, and asthis strikes the edge ofthe cartridge-shell and rides down on the saineit will arrest the slipping` of the lever, so that projection 7i willdescend over the center of the shell-post b.

The construction of the devices being substantially as hereinbeforespecified, will operate as lollows: The shell is slipped upon the postand if capped the lever j' is nioved so as to bring the decapper 7i overthe center ot' the shell-post b, which movement ot' the lever j'operates the bent lever el, which iii turn actuates the central plunger,c, causing it to project through the top of the shell-post against thecap and carries up with it the cartridgeshell l. The leverj' is thenforced down, causing the deeapper 7i to straddle the cap, bear upon thecartridge-sliell, forcing the saine down upon the top of the post andlifting the cap out of t-lie recess of the shell. rlhe lever j' is thenmoved, so as bring the capper g over the center of sliell-post b, whichmovement actuates lever (l in reverse direction and withdraws thecentral plunger, c. A fresh cap is now placed over the cap-seat, and thedescent of the lever causes the projection or capper f/ to i'orce itdown into the cap-seat, after which the shell is removed from the postl.

The main advantages of my invention are that a single set oi' devices isobtained which is adapted for both capping and decapping cartridge-shells, and said operations can. be consecutive without removing the shellfrom the post; or the vdevices can be used for continuously capping orcontinuously decapping, at the will ofthe user,- and that such devicesare simple, easily opera-ted, compact, and not liable to get ont oforder.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is`- 1. In a device for capping and decappingcartridge-shells, the combination of a fixed hollow shell-post, anaxially-movable plunger arranged therein, an elbow-lever pivoted at itslower end on the bed of the fixed shellpost and connected to the movableplunger, and a capping and decapping lever pivoted on the elbow-level',substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a device for capping and decapping cartridge-shells, thecombination of a fixed hollow shell-post, an axially-movable plungerarranged therein, an elbow-lever connected with the axial-plunger,pivoted at its lower end on the bed of the shell-post, and provided withspurs to limit the motion of the elbowlever and axial plunger,substantially as and for the purposes speciiied.

3. In a device for capping and decappiiig cartridge-shells, thecombination of a iixed hollow shell-post, aii axially-movable plungerarranged therein, an elbow-lever connected with the axial plunger andpivoted at its lower end on the bed of the shell-post, a lever pivotedon the free arni of the elbow-lever and provided with capping anddeeappiiig lugs, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. Iii a device for capping and'decapping cartridge-shells, thecombination of a ixed hollow shell-post, an axially-movable plungerarranged therein, an elbow-lever connected with the axial plunger andpivoted at its lower end on the bed of the shell-post, a lever pivotedon the free arm of the elbow-lever and provided with capping, decapping,and an intermediate guide-lug, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

5. ln a device for capping and decapping cartridge-shells, a shellpostprovided with a detachable sleeve i'or changing the post to suit shellsof different caliber, substantially as specified.

(5. In a device for capping and decapping cartridge-shells, thecombination, with a shellpost, ot' a nest of detachable sleeves for adjust-- ing the post to shells of different caliber, substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence ol" twowitncsses, this June, 1883.

F. NV. RITTER, J'r.

v23d day of IOO IIO

